I'm here for the long haul, says PM

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John Howard has signalled he is determined to use his enhanced
mandate to implement his industrial relations reforms, new Medicare
policy and stronger counter-terrorism measures, and says he has
given no thought to relinquishing the leadership.

Asked yesterday what his legacy would be, the Prime Minister
said: "I'm not thinking about leaving, therefore I'm not thinking
about legacies."

He pledged yesterday to place economic management, and
especially policies to ensure low interest rates, at the centre of
his agenda. And he admitted he was surprised by the magnitude of
the Coalition election victory.

The Government is expected to renew its campaign for tougher
counter-terrorist legislation as an early priority.

The Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock, said he would use the
Government's likely control of the Senate to push through new
counter-terrorism laws and a national defamation code.

He said that should he remain in the portfolio he has held for
12 months, he would "produce fairly quickly" bills delayed in the
last Parliament to allow surveillance of emails and mobile phone
text messages, and to protect sensitive national security
information in terrorist court cases.

As to any further counter-terrorism measures he would like to
see put in place in the new term, Mr Ruddock said the Government's
national security canvas was "an unfinished work" and said he
"would not exclude further amendments".

Mr Ruddock said if the states continued to oppose his plans for
a uniform national defamation code, he would use the Government's
probable Senate majority to pass federal libel legislation without
their consent.

Mr Howard is reviewing his ministry and will announce a new
line-up next week.

He wants to promote some new faces into the outer ministry. The
Defence Minister, Robert Hill, could be headed for a diplomatic
appointment and some senior ministers may move portfolios, although
the Treasurer, Peter Costello, and the Foreign Minister, Alexander
Downer, will remain in their jobs, Mr Howard said.

Mr Ruddock said it was up to the Prime Minister to decide
whether he would remain Attorney-General, but that he was "not
asking to be shifted".

The new high-flying MPs Malcolm Turnbull and Andrew Robb are not
expected to win spots in the ministry at this stage.

"I think they have enormous qualifications but I also think
everybody has to get used to the new environment, at least for a
little while," Mr Howard said.

He said the Coalition had received a "very emphatic mandate" by
increasing its lower house majority and possibly controlling the
Senate. But he declared the Government would not be "riding
roughshod" over its opponents

He also indicated the Government would try to bring the
Australian people along with it in its reform program.

"We're not going to use this somewhat better position in a
capricious or disruptive fashion," Mr Howard said. "We're not going
to allow this enhanced position to go to our heads. That would be a
big mistake and the Australian public would not appreciate it".

The new Parliament is to begin sittings on November 16, and the
Government will introduce legislation to implement its promises to
increase Medicare benefits and health insurance rebates for people
over 65, Mr Howard said.

Mr Howard played down the chances of the Government winning a
Senate majority, saying it was possible, but "a big ask".